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Sydney1
Egg
Joined: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 9
Location: New York, USA |
| Nervous Newbie |
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Hello all,
I am a new owner of a now 13 week old CAG named Kato, that my husband surprise-bought for me about a week ago. Currently she is still at the store because she's not completely weaned.
I have only owned small birds before, so Kato is a little intimidating to me. My husband knew a little about greys and has wanted one for a while (I think he really bought her for himself, but says he bought her for me to look good...lol). Anyway, the information he knew was correct, but the
amount
of information he knew was very little. I have been researching greys since he bought her to make sure that I know everything needed to provide her with the best home, but my findings are making me a little nervous. Behavioral problems, plucking, biting...these are not things my husband knew anything about.
I figured the best thing to do was to socialize her immediately with everyone in the family, even though she is still at the store. So we go visit her often..sometimes it's me and my husband (we both share handling her when we are together)...sometimes it's just me...and sometimes it's me and my kids. I think she's getting used to me because whenever I open her cage she comes right over to me and climbs onto my hand. Either that or she just really wants to get the heck out of her cage. I usually walk around with her and talk...sometimes I put her on the playstand they have there, but she's always trying to get back onto me. My husband has had no problems with handling her and she seems to like him as well. My son has pet her many times, but not held her, and my daughter will pet her maybe once and talk to her a little. If my kids continue to interact with her in this way, even though it's very little, will it be enough for Kato to feel comfortable with them? Or do they actually need to
handle
her? I'm afraid that even though she might get used to them, she might still spontaneously bite them. Right now she's been testing the waters with me on the whole biting thing...she hasn't really hurt me, but I was told to say "no" firmly and bring my hand down a little bit in a swift manner while she's perched on it. An alternative to that was to blow a little bit in her face. Are these common methods?
Also, being that greys are usually a one-person bird, we asked the storeowner what we could do to prevent that. He told us that until my husband comes home from work at the end of the day, and we are both able to spend time with her
together
, I shouldn't pay her too much attention. Isn't this going to cause problems? If she doesn't get enough attention during the day won't she develop behavioral problems?
Lastly, I've read some of the posts here about birds becoming dominant if they spend time above your eye level. If so, is it wrong to place them on a playstand that is above your eye level as well? Or does that only apply to when you hold them or when you want to place them on your shoulder?
Thank you all in advance for your time...I'm sorry if I wrote a lot...any input would be gladly welcomed.
Jennifer |
Tuesday July 25, 2006 10:56 pm |
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NakedDogMom
Fledgeling
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 312
Location: Ohio |
Welcome to the world of Greys!
We don't have one (yet) but I know we'll have one in a year or so.
My mother in law has a CAG. I'd love a TAG, myself. Hubby doesn't care as long as it's a Grey!
As far as biting goes. Please don't 'drop' her! You want her to trust a human hand, not be nervous that's it's unstable and might go out from underneath her at any moment. Don't jerk your hand away from her beak, either. She'll start to make a game of it to see if she can be 'quicker' then you! And bite faster and harder!
When Sera (my G2) gets nippy, she gets a calm 'No' (nothing stern or sharp) and gets put back in her cage for a few minutes.
I can't wait to watch your little one grow up! Do you know about when you'll be able to take her home? I bet in the meantime, it's fun buying all the toys and fun stuff for her, huh? |
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Wednesday July 26, 2006 12:21 am |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: Nervous Newbie |
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Wow! I just read your (long) post and I could just think that you're wonderful: Preparing for a birdy like that!  That's just great!
Personally, I wouldn't use the word 'no'.. But there are so many opinions! Rather I'd distract Kato, then praise her for good behavior.
I'd not let her on shoulders, but if Kato steps up from a higher play stand then I don't see a problem with it? If it does give problems, you can use a chair to stand on.. I used that with Zazu who refused to step up when I was lower than he was. (He managed to get on top of his cage and wouldn't step up)
I'd not cuddle Kato just for nothing. If you want to cuddle her, let her do something. A simple step up would do.. |
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Wednesday July 26, 2006 9:32 am |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
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Hi Jennifer, welcome to fluffies
I totally disagree with ignoring your Grey until your husband gets home  I don't know where that guy got his information. You are totally right, ignoring her all day could cause her to become bored and develop behavioural problems. The best thing you can do to make your Grey not be a one person type of bird is to just socialise her now while she's young with as many people as possible which you're already doing. Handle her a lot, and get your whole family to handle her and interact with her often. Get them to offer her treats out of their hands and get each person to practice stepping up with her. If you can also take her on outings to new places with new people, this will also help her become a less shy, and more social grey.
As far as the biting, I do the same as NakedDogMom, my Grey used to bite and every time she did so I immediately put her back in her cage for time out and ignored her for about 10 minutes. Soon she began associating biting with not getting any attention, and she stopped the behaviour. Keep in mind though, in the early stages, when she's testing the waters with you, you don't want to show her any fear or weakness. If she tries to bite, don't pull your hand away or scream owch.
I think the eye level thing is different for every individual bird. My grey has lots of swings and perches that are above my eye level, and I've never had any problems with her. I wouldn't recommend putting her on your shoulder though, until you are completely comfortable and bonded to her and know that she won't bite you. Sometimes though that can still be risky, because something could startle her and she might bite your face, ear or eye out of fear or excitement.
Hope I answered your questions
Good luck to you, can't wait to hear more about your new baby! |
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Wednesday July 26, 2006 12:32 pm |
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chispleeze
Flier
Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 475
Location: Upstate NY |
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Jennifer,
First thing I would like to suggest to you is get the book "For the Love of Greys" by Bobbie Brinker. Excellent book!!
At this age if she's biting it's probably more out of exploration. Always have a toy with you that if she start to nip, just tell her "no bite" and give her a toy to bite on instead. If she really is biting you hard and insistently, then I agree with the others, put her back in her cage. But you do have to be careful with that too because she can learn to bite simply if she does not want to be handled. She'll know biting means she gets her own way and gets put down.
I also do NOT agree with ignoring her all day. You'll end up with a frustrated, unhappy bird. But I would save something special for your husband to share with her (favorite treat, toy etc.) that she only gets from him when he's home.
As for handling with the kids, how old are they? No matter how hard you try, greys are never going to be as sociable as say a cockatoo might. But it would be good if Kato will at least know the "step up" command from your kids, if they are old enough. If they are too intimidated to hold her though then I'd just stick with the petting. Because if she does bite (or nails dig too deep) and they react negatively, loudly etc. she will either become frightened of them, or else learn that it's fun to bite because of the "drama" it causes. Greys are very sensitive but VERY smart. Don't ever underestimate Kato's little mind.
Can't wait to hear when you finally bring her home.
Robin |
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Wednesday July 26, 2006 1:42 pm |
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Sydney1
Egg
Joined: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 9
Location: New York, USA |
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Well thanks everyone! Your input has been great and I'll try everything you all said and see what works for us.
Robin, that's what I was thinking...that mabe she is just exploring because she's a baby and everything is so new to her.
My kids are 7 and 10. The 10 year old (my son) is comfortable with Kato to the extent that he talks to her and pets her, but is not interested in holding her. Kato is kinda still wobbly on her feet so maybe it's a good thing that he doesn't hold her anyway? My girl on the other hand has no interest in Kato..the most I can get her to do is say hello and maybe give her a little pet. I doubt she will ever want to hold her, but I figured some interaction is better than none.
Another question for all you out there...how many of you travel with your greys? Not long travels, but just everyday travels. Do you let them roam your car or do you put them in a carrier?
Thanks again...
Jennifer
(PS..Kato already responds to the step up command - early learner or typical age?) |
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Thursday July 27, 2006 10:19 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
quote:
Originally posted by Sydney1
Another question for all you out there...how many of you travel with your greys? Not long travels, but just everyday travels. Do you let them roam your car or do you put them in a carrier?
I have let Bunny sit on my shoulder before while traveling in the car, but only if it's a really short drive to the coffee shop or something. For longer drives, like trips to the vet or something, I always put her in her travel carrier. It's just safer, because she is quite nervous when traveling in the car, and anything could startle her, causing her to take flight and crash into the windows or distract the driver causing an accident. When you're travelling for your first time, I'd say put Kato in a travel carrier, just to see how well she handles travelling, if she is nervous or not. Also, my Grey gets car sick, and she has a tendency to flick her throw up in my face  so another reason to keep her in the carrier |
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Friday July 28, 2006 2:36 am |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
Hi there and welcome,
This is a wonderous world, there is so much of a difference a Grey compared to a small bird. We just got or second grey last night. They never stop amazing me. If I were just begining again I believe I would get a young bird.
Shirin is right about traveling Misty our first Grey gets sick sometimes as well , although Babe did fine last night. I know we should not but if Carrie can keep the birds under control, we allow them to ride with us. We have built perchs from then to ride in the Car. This usually means that only two birds out. And we are never alone in the car driving. We have not had any problems, but they are on harness and Carrie watchs them real close.
Good luck with your Grey, and remeber that you can only except to get out of a relationship, what you are will to put into it. Trust, love and affection are all there waiting for you to give.
John & Carrie |
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Thursday August 3, 2006 11:12 pm |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
Hi Sydney! My YNA travels very well in my car. If you look in my diary page titled our trip to the park, you'll be able to see how we travel. It's a shower perch that I suction-cup to the passenger window. She loves it and is very well behaved and has never flown off of it. I've also had my baby sunday conure travel on my shoulder. He was a little nervous and was froze on my shoulder He travels very well too. |
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Friday August 4, 2006 12:40 pm |
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